Alstroemeria

I've pinched some of this from my mums garden and it's looking a bit sorry for itself, should it pick up after a few days? 

New gardener here so fret about my plants and need all the help I can get 

I am an alstroemeria fan-you may find it will not flower in its first year-takes a while to settle down and makes root rather than flower but they are really tough plants, survive outdoors, through frost and snow and still return.

Have two just coming into flower now

Thank you sotongeoff. They have such a lovely flower, I didn't realise they were so tough! 

I've got Alstroemeria's in pots and they are flowering their socks. I had them flowering right up to Christmas last year. I cut them back early in the spring and off they go again. I love them.

That's fantastic! 

Hi !! My alstroemerias are about to come into flower. I think they are lovely plants and love the way the leaves curl back on themselves. They do like plenty of water, a well drained soil and a sunny site. Depending on how much rain you have where you are, regular watering, in the morning, so as not to attract slugs/snails, should help them establish in theire new "home". Hope it all goes well 

They are in a sunny spot, had lots of rain recently, but not today so watered them in. 

Thank you 

Already picked 2 large bunches of alsters so far this year. a bit late flowering but they were going up until Xmas, so I reckon they need a bit of a rest!! 

plant them deep and keep picking them, when the flowers are finishing pull the whole stem out of the ground and the resulting wound spurs it on to make more  flowers. 

Lots of compost and manure and they will form a huge clump and 3 years later you will be dividing them and have loads - I have them every where!!! All from 2 3" pots 5 years ago

One of the best value plants you can get, nearly always get 6 months flowering out of them. 

There are the dwarf type and SPS must have the taller variety that I bought last year -hoping for flowers this year-my neighbour has these and they were still in flower in December-went past earlier and they are flowering again now.

Correction on my earlier post- 3 now in flower

Mine still aren't in flower yet - any day now !!!!   I grew them from seed and this is the second summer for those that survived the slug and snail attacks.  They seem stronger plants than last year but no clumping is apparent.  I will add some compost/manure mulch which might help.

Thanks for the helpful tip about how to remove the flowers which I'll adopt as flowering through autumn to December sounds great !!

mine are the tall ones, have all floppped in this rubbish wind and rain, will have to get out there at the weekend and support them. 

i have never found the slug damage to be too severe as once they are going they grown faster then the slugs can eat them!!  

Here are some pics from today

Wow - lovely photos - nothing like my ones which are still in bud !!!!! If they ever break into flower will have to post some photos.

I've found the seed packet and they are ligtu hybrids. Having measured from soil to top of flower cluster they are 15ins/38cms. The slugs/snails seemed to like the seedling leaves and then the new growth this spring but as has been said the plants do seem to outgrow the attacks - thankfully !!

I'm interested to know what the taller ones are so that I can look out for them as plants or seeds.

Many thanks. 

Just for you- have found the packet my taller ones came in it is "alstromeria aurea orange"-this is its second year so hoping for it to flower-this is a google image

Hi sotongeoff - many thanks for taking the trouble - and so quickly - to find the packet and accessing the photo - the flowers do look lovely - will definitely be looking for seeds but could be tempted if I see a plant for sale first !!! 

I was lucky -they were reduced in Homebase by 50% to clear and it was a 3 for £5 offer-I think as their till can't cope with reductions and offers at the same time paying £2 or so for the 3 boxes about this time last year

Hi everyone - haven't forgotton but am still waiting for mine to flower - honest !!!

Here's a photo of how a couple are today 01/07/2012 !!! I'm blaming the poor weather - cold, wet and very strong winds for late flowering !!! 

 Nothing like the bargain you obtained at Homebase sotongeoff - well done !! 

I'm still waiting for more seeds to germinate - will have to put them in the fridge soon I think !! 

Sorry Starflower - just remembered - how are yours doing now ?